Where will the weather station system components be LOCATED/INSTALLED?

Sensors: Consider best practices for sensor placement, balanced against the needs of your installation/requirement. For most installations, for example, it simply isn’t feasible (or necessary) to mount wind sensors 30-feet above a building structure.

All-in-one sensor configurations are popular for ease of use and installation. However, optimum placement for each sensor may be different. For example, temperature and humidity sensors should be installed four to six feet above the ground in a shaded location; rain gauges should be sited out in the open about two feet above ground; and the standard height of an anemometer is 10 meters (33 feet) above ground. For most applications, compromise is in order and measurement references are relative. Also, all-in-one sensors utilize a built-in radiation shield to “shade” temperature and humidity sensors.

Are you located in a cold climate? Orion and Pulsar weather station models offer heated sensor transmitter options to mitigate the effect of extreme weather on winter operations.

Unless you are looking for a vehicle-mounted or portable weather station, the sensors will generally be installed on a mast mounted on a building wall or rooftop. Is there an existing mast the sensors can be mounted upon? Due to the various mounting options, weather stations usually don’t include a mast, so be sure to add mast and accompanying hardware if needed to your specification.

If the sensor mast will be mounted on a tripod at ground level for an extended period of time, consider security measures such as fencing.

No matter what type of sensor, location planning is crucial for specifying communication options from the sensor to the control hub, for example the required length of cable or desirability of wireless data transmission.

Monitoring Device: What device is the sensor-suite connecting to and where is it/will it be located? Consider mounting/placement for the device as well as distance to sensors. Check out the system diagram of your desired configuration to help determine cable lengths between components and proximity to power.

Power Access: With the exception of the portable configuration which comes with its own battery pack, weather stations require AC power. Wired AC is the most reliable option, but solar power can be an option for remote locations. Sensor power is generally accomplished through an Interface Module which may be located near the sensors or closer to the monitoring device depending on the application. Various monitoring devices require access to power as well.

Cable Lengths: Be sure to determine cable lengths needed for your installation requirements. Weather station components comes with standard cable lengths. Depending on the application, additional cable lengths, or even communication options, might be required.